Spring operated time switch



Al lg. 17, 1937. KURT|$ 2,090,300

0 SPRING OPERATED TIME] SWITCH Filed April 25, 1934 INVENTOR PatentedAug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in time switches, and its leadingobject is to provide a positive mechanical device for closing or openingan electrical circuit, which can be installed with a minimum of skill,and which will operate by direct mechanical action a toggle switch,enclosed by the case of the time mechanism.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thiskind, including a standard alarm clock mechanism, having an alarm springkey which turns when the alarm spring is released, and a toggle switchprovided with a rounded lever which projects directly in the path of therotative movement of the alarm spring 5 key, and which will be shiftedfrom one of its two extreme positions by the rolling engagement of theend of the alarm spring key with the rounded and tapered surface of thetoggle lever, so that the desired circuit controlling operation may beaccomplished.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple means formounting the toggle switch on the bell of the alarm clock mechanism, topermit of relative adjustment thereof.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists incertain new and useful constructions, combinations, and arrangements ofparts, clearly described in the following specification, and fullyillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:-

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a time mechanism wherein the toggle switchlever is located above the axis of the alarm spring key.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the toggle lever located below thealarm spring key.

Fig. 3 is a detail side view, partly in section.

Referring to the drawing 5 designates the case of a time clockmechanism, which includes the usual time gear train and an alarm train,con- 4-0 structed to be released at a time period controlled by theturning of the knob or handle 6. The mechanism also includes the timespring key, which is turned by hand to wind the time spring, and analarm spring key I, which is also turned by hand to wind the alarmspring. The hands of the clock or time mechanism are set by the usualcentral key or handle 8.

These parts are all old and well known and I am aware that variousattempts have been made to equip an alarm clock mechanism with anelectric switch, operated by the alarm spring key, but in the majorityof such efforts a special switch was used, or complicated mechanicalparts were used between the alarm spring key and the electrical switch,with the result that the cost of the combined switch was excessive andthe action was not as positive and dependable as was required.

In the present instance the alarm clock mechanism remains unaltered,with respect to the 5 time train and the alarm train of gears, and aswitch of well known standard construction is used, which has a togglelever handle disposed directly in the path of the rotating key of thealarm spring. This combination is so arranged 10 that the alarm springcan build up its tension when released, and there is a rolling contactbetween the end of the alarm spring key and the side of the toggleswitch lever, which insures the shifting of the toggle switch lever fromone 15 of its extreme positions to the other of its extreme positions.

A toggle electric switch which includes the toggle lever B is locatedbelow the alarm spring key. This lever is formed with a tapered androunded surface, and is provided on its inner end with a ball I 0, whichworks in the socket H. The socket II is clamped to the bell I2 of thealarm mechanism, by means of the nut 13, or may be riveted thereto. Thetoggle lever oper- 25 ates a movable contact or switch element enclosedin the switch box l4, concealed behind the bell I2. The electricalcurrent wire cord [5 is extended through the side of the bell at l6 andwired to the terminals of the switch.

The toggle lever 9 is supported relative to the bell l2 so that itprojects at an acute angle, and remains in the path of the rotativemovement of the alarm spring key I. When the alarm mechanism is releasedby the time controlled release 35 mechanism, the alarm spring will startto unwind, thus swinging the key in the direction of the arrow shown inFig. 1, around its own axis, and thereby bringing the end of the key Iagainst the rounded and tapered end of the toggle lever. 40 The tensionof the now reacting alarm spring being greater than the tension of theswitch spring, the alarm spring key I will shift the toggle lever fromone of its extreme positions to the other of its extreme positions. 45

In Fig. 2 I show an alarm clock including the case 15, which may beconstructed of bell metal, and which is formed with a slot 16 in whichthe toggle lever socket I! is mounted for adjustment, with reference tothe alarm spring key l8. This socket is retained in place by means ofthe nut iii. The toggle lever 20 is constructed with a rounded taperedsurface, and operates in the same manner as the construction shown inFig. 1. In Fig. 2 55 the toggle switch lever 20 is shown to be locatedabove the alarm spring key H3.

The mounting of the rounded and tapered toggle lever in the path of thealarm spring key, for direct mechanical engagement and operation by thelatter, insures that all of the energy of the alarm spring will beapplied to shift the toggle lever, and that no intermediate mechanicalparts will interfere or prevent the positive shifting or operation ofthe switch.

This uncertainty about the operation of electrical switches frequentlyresults in serious interference with theatrical and sign displays, andthe unreliability of complicated time switches now calls for theemployment of help needed in other places. It is the object of thepresent invention to provide a positive mechanical operation by aninexpensive alarm clock mechanism, the operation of which will not bedependent on electrical contacts subject to corrosion and imperfectfunctioning.

By providing the alarm key 1 with a long arm la the toggle lever may bethrown, and the alarm key will be prevented from continuing'to turn inan unwinding direction, by reason of the resistance offered by thetoggle lever after the same has been thrown. The same may be true alsoof the showing in Fig. 2, in which case the key I8 is provided with along arm I811, which is designed to exert the necessary throwing efforton the toggle lever 20, and to be stopped against further movement whenthe toggle lever has been thrown. In this way the alarm spring isprevented from unwinding after the toggle lever has been thrown.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. The combination with a housing and a time controlled mechanismtherein having a spring rotatable key releasable at a givenpredetermined interval, of a toggle switch carried by the housing andhaving a toggle lever formed with a rounded and tapered surface mountedin the path of rotation of the key, the axis of movement of the toggleleverbeing approximately at right angles to the axis movement of thekey, the key having a cross arm projecting therefrom to engage and throwthe toggle lever and adapted to be arrested from further movement in anunwinding direction by the toggle lever when the same has been thrown.

2. The combination of a time mechanism in cluding an alarm train and acase therefor, said mechanism also including an alarm key, a toggleswitch mounted directly on the case and enclosed thereby, said toggleswitch. including a rounded lever pivoted to swing in an axis ofapproximately atright angles to that of the key in the path of rotativemovement of the winding key and projecting outwardly of the case to beengaged by said winding key, said winding key having an arm to engagethe lever when shifted from one of its positions to the other of itspositions and. said arm being of sufiicient length to engage the leverwhereby the lever will prevent further rotative movement of the windingkey when the lever has been shifted thereby.

FREDERICK G. KURTIS.

